Kiwi Ears Septet VS Ziigaat Odyssey 2

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Kiwi Ears Septet lands as an airy, spacious, and distinctly sparkly listen with a clear bright-leaning tilt that avoids harshness. Despite a notable 5–8 kHz lift, the treble comes across refined rather than peaky, while a touch of mid-bass warmth keeps the tonality musical and natural. The result is punchy drums and momentum on rock and acoustic tracks, with technicals that punch above price—layering and separation sit around Dusk/Pilgrim territory. It’s like a more airy, sparklier Meta with less forward vocals and less artificial sheen than ultra-bright sets. The “open-back” faceplate doesn’t audibly change things, but staging still feels wide.

Fit and setup matter: a deep seal smooths treble; tips like Softears Alpha Clear or Tangzu Sancai can tame peaks. The Septet scales nicely on slower tracks up to ~80 dB, but on energetic K-pop/J-pop/hip-hop it can turn hot—hi-hats may sting if the volume creeps. Comfort is solid at mid volume for hours, though sensitive ears may feel fatigue over long sessions, especially in that 5–8 kHz zone. Vocals are set back: clean and inoffensive rather than shouty, but on busy rock they can feel a touch distant. This is a treble-forward, technical presentation; not a mid-centric vocal specialist and not a bass-head set—low end is adequate but softer in impact and pushed slightly to the back.

Versus peers: Astral is the safer all-rounder with more forward vocals and less brightness; Quintet is the vocal-oriented pick, while Septet is smoother, airier, and a bit more micro-detailed. Recent Orchestra Light (unit-dependent) sounds more V-shaped and shouty; Septet takes tuning and technicals. Odyssey wins on immersion, bass texture, and vocal pop at loud volumes, but Septet brings better air, separation, and detail at normal levels. Compared with Lush, Septet is brighter and more resolving; Lush is smoother and one of the best scalers under $300 if you like it loud. For vocals first, look to EPZ P50, Cadenza 4, or Tanjim Origin; for bassier fun under $300, consider DSKO, Estrella, Deuce, or Tros. If a sparkly, airy, technical flavor that stands apart from “Harman-by-default” is appealing, Septet is a worthwhile add to the collection.

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Odyssey 2 shifts the OG’s recipe toward a more mid-centric, vocal-first tuning with a gentle sub-bass lift and smoother treble. Bass hits with less slam than the original but feels tighter, quicker, and cleaner, keeping texture competitive for the price. The top end is calmer—less bite, still adequately extended—trading sparkle for an easy, natural presentation.

Clarity steps up in the mids: vocals pop, separation improves, and detail comes through more plainly, while the OG keeps an edge in bass/treble “texture.” It’s a higher-volume scaler; give it juice and it opens up, especially for ballads, acoustic, indie, and pop—less ideal for hip-hop/R&B/jazz where extra weight and contrast help. Tip rolling that adds a touch of low-end/treble energy can inject the missing excitement without upsetting the balance.

Against similarly “safe” sets (Daybreak, P50), Odyssey 2 leans more vocal-centric with better bass texture; versus value champs (Supermix 4, Nova, Chopin), it sounds fuller and more natural but isn’t the value king. Lush gives more air up top, Arcanis/Luna serve as pricier “special sauce” paths if treble bite or OG-style warmth is desired. Verdict: a safer pick and polished all-rounder—objectively as good or slightly cleaner than OG—but for die-hard OG fans, more of a refined sidegrade than a direct, high-octane upgrade.

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The Kiwi Ears Septet is a multi-driver oddball in the best way: a single DD + 4BA + planar + PZT hybrid with an open-back shell at $259. Build is solid with a metal body, flat 2-pin sockets and a handsome modular cable; fit is stable and isolation would be strong if it weren’t vented. It’s clearly aimed at listeners who want something different in both design and presentation.

Sonically it’s a down-tilted, slightly L-shaped tuning: deep, thumpy bass, subdued upper-mids, and a sparkly 4–6 kHz region that adds air and detail. The open structure creates a speaker-like stage—wide, clean imaging with a sense of room—but it can show a hint of hiss and benefits from more power (dongle/DAP recommended) to wake up dynamics. It’s a unique, spacious listen that some will love and others won’t; while the treble and imaging impress and it earns a recommendation (even a spot in a price-tier top 10), those wanting stronger presence in vocals may prefer Kiwi Ears’ more conventional tunings or adjacent sets like Astral or Performer series.

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Ziigaat x Hangout Audio Odyssey 2 comes as a 1DD + 3BA hybrid in a fully metal shell with a matching metal nozzle, venting, and a comfortable, familiar Ziigaat fit. The package is generous: a handsome new case (seen on Luna/Crescent), 4.4 balanced with a swappable 3.5 adapter, multiple tips, and spare filters. The flat 2-pin cable looks good in black/green but is a bit memory-prone/tangle-happy; functional, yet a likely swap for cable sticklers.

Sonically, Odyssey 2 skews punchy in the bass with clean, thick mids and well-controlled upper-mids; the treble is smooth and gently rolled with limited airy “sparkle,” giving a more studio-like presentation. Versus the original Odyssey, this tuning is less U-shaped, with dialed-back excitement and upper treble—safer, calmer, and easier long-term. It’s a well-built, well-accessorized set at a reasonable price that many will find effortless to enjoy, even if thrill-seekers may want more bite up top.

In context, it parallels Lush on upper-mids (no urgent need to switch unless craving a touch more sub-bass or a different treble flavor), feels safer than Performer 7 (which has spicier 8k), and sits under the more vivid Odyssey (OG) and the slightly brighter, airier Crescent. It doesn’t reach the extra sub-bass/air of the Dusk DSP but improves on the original Dusk’s flatter treble character; meanwhile, Ziigaat’s Horizon trends richer and crisper up top. Overall verdict: a solid 8.0/10—mids are the star, bass is engaging if not rowdy, and upper-treble restraint keeps fatigue low. Not the most electric choice at ~$225, but a clean, safe, studio-leaning option with broad appeal.

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ZiiGaat × Hangout Audio Odyssey 2 brings a 1DD + 3BA configuration to the ~$220 bracket with a generous kit: big leather case, three tip sets, nozzle filters, and interchangeable plugs. The green/black glitter faceplate looks slick and the metal shell feels solid—though a touch less premium than some rivals—and the fit skews large, which may fatigue smaller ears. The new black-and-green cable feels nicer than older ZiiGaat parts, has some memory, but is fully usable.

Voicing is non-offensive and slightly warm-leaning, with sub-bass emphasis and more neutral mid-bass that trades punch for a thumpy, rumbly foundation. Mids are natural with fuller male vocals; female vocals read clean yet not especially gripping. Treble stays relaxed and smooth with enough air, though a faint edginess can pop up on orchestral recordings. Technicals sit around class-average, but the notably wide soundstage (≈4/5) and accurate imaging make it friendly for casual gaming.

Against peers, the original Odyssey runs a touch more mid-bass and treble, coming across less dull; it remains the safer pick for some. DUNU DaVinci at similar money hits harder, feels more exciting, and carries a nicer midrange; AFUL Performer 7 offers a mild-V that’s more balanced overall with a more natural bass but a brighter top end. Recommendation: choose Odyssey 2 if a warm, easy, sub-bass-tilted listen is the goal; skip it if chasing fun and energy. Like unflavored sparkling water, it’s refreshing yet low on flavor—ultimately a two-star value pick: solid and safe, but not especially distinctive.

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Ziigaat Odyssey 2 lands as a premium-feeling set: a CNC-milled aluminum chassis with a sparkly blue/silver faceplate, solid two-pin cable with interchangeable 3.5/4.4 plugs, spare nozzle filters, and a roomy new brown carrying case. The stock cable is nice—though its green tint doesn’t quite match the shell’s aqua tone. Tip selection is generous (foam plus two silicone sets), and the newer silicone tips are a standout. Overall, a tidy package for the price.

Tuning follows the current “new meta”: energetic low end with a cleaner sub-bass attack/decay than sets like ZENs Top/Top Pro, which helps in games. Bass stays punchy yet controlled, so imaging and separation/layering come through well, though gunfire can still push forward. For pure music the bigger, rumblier sets may feel livelier, but for competitive play Odyssey 2 reads space more cleanly and keeps clutter down better than bass-heavier rivals.

Title by title: in Valorant it sounds natural and punchy with tighter gun reports and better map imaging—footsteps are a bit thicker and light taps could cut more—earning a B+. In Apex it’s cleaner than ZENs Top Pro and fine in 3v3s, but big third-party fights expose some separation limits; call it a strong B (bordering B+). In CS2 the positional read improves over ZENs Top Pro, though lighter surface cues and gunfire depth could be crisper—solid overall. Call of Duty plays to its strengths: warmer timbre, wide/deep stage, excellent layering during streaks, with only occasional gunfire masking—another B+. Net result: placed in the B+ tier on the WallHack list, at the lower edge bordering B, similar to the original Odyssey’s standing.

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The Ziigaat Odyssey 2 arrives as a collab between Ziigaat and Hangout Audio (tied to Crinacle), essentially a Crin-influenced set in disguise; it’s a 1DD + 3BA hybrid priced around $250. Accessories are thoughtful—three ear-tip sets, spare adhesive filters, and swappable 3.5/4.4 terminations—though the long, friction-fit plug feels awkward. The metal shell is medium-sized with a short nozzle for a shallow fit; comfort is easy, stability average, and the thin green cable is softer than prior Ziigaat attempts with a chin slider that actually holds.

Tonally it lands squarely in the tilted diffuse-field “meta” neutral camp: natural vocals, tame upper-treble, and a slight 4–6 kHz lift that adds clarity and a more contrasty/clinical edge without harshness. Imaging and separation are clean for the price, but the sub-bass-focused boost leaves the low end marshmallowy—tactile yet soft, with kick drums short on slam. Overall balance is convincing and easy to live with, just not especially exciting.

Versus Ziigaat Lush, Odyssey 2 is crisper and more defined where Lush sounds darker, smoother, and a bit low-res, though Lush hits mid-bass a touch harder. Against Softears Volume S (costlier), Volume S wins on bass grip and midrange texture, sounding fuller and more engaging while Odyssey 2 stays cleaner but more clinical. Conclusion: a very good set in a crowded mold—3/5 for a refined meta tune with agreeable timbre but modest bass impact.